Dry-pipe valve.



P. EVANS.

DRY PIPE VALVE. APPLiCATION FILED 050. IT. 1914.

Patented May 15, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I a 1 {2% I 4 1 w 4m\ 4 P. EVANS.

DRY PIPE VALVE. APPLICATION FILED 050.17, 1914.

Patented May 15, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

POWELL EVANS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS TO GLOBE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER COMPANY, "OF PHILADELPHIA, 'EENN- SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DRY-PIPE VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1917.

Application filed December 17, 1914. Serial No. 877,785.

tain Improvements in Dry-Pipe Valves, of

which the following is a specification.

One objectof my invention is to provide a dry pipe valve which shall be substantial in construction and of such design that its operation will be certain even after the lapsevof long periods of time, the invention also contemplating the provision of means for adjusting the position of the water valve or clapper relatively to its seat for the purpose of taking up any slack or lost motion be-- tween certain of the elements and their associated parts as well as to prevent leakage.

Another obJect of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of valves, connec' tions and weight for controlling the operationof the water valve ot a dry pipe sys tem, the construction being such that the weight is wholly outside of the valve casing and. provided with novel means for connecting it to the water and. air controlling valves.

The invention further contemplates novel means for preventing accidental closure of the main water and air valves due to re bounding after they have once been opened and also includes means for holding the main air valve in its open position in order that a n attendant shall be compelled to open the valve casing and inspect the mechanism before said valvecan be returned to its seat. These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which v Figs. 1 and 2 are vertical sections illus trating a dry pipe valve constructed according to my invention. with its parts in the po- 'sitions occupied before and after operation respectively.

Fig. 3 is a plan partly in section illustrating the form and disposition of parts Within the lower part of the valve casing. and

Fig. l is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating a modified form of one of the parts of the valvemechanism.

.In the above drawings 1 represents a casting forming a valve casing divided into two hambers by a partition 2 in which is an opening having a valve seat 3 for the main air valve or clapper 4E. The lower oft-he two chambers 5 thus formed has in its lower part an inlet opening provided with a valve seat 6 for the reception of the main water valve or clapper 7 which is connected itol an"- arm 8 pivoted. to the casing struoture byaa pin 9. This connection between thefarnr and the valve is such as to permit of slightuniversal movement of said valve upon thearm and consists of an integral threadedprojection 10 extending from the valve through the arm 8, with a retaining nut 11.

The upper chamber 12 has an overhanging sideportion formed with an opening in which is a valve seat 13 for the reception of an auxiliary air valve 1+ and similarly there is an opening having a seat 15 in the adjacent side wall of the lower chamber 5. This latter seat preferably lies in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the seat 13 and is designed for the reception of a valve 16 within said lower chamber. Said valve is pivoted upon a lever 17 which has, stops 18 placed to limit its pivotal movement and said lever is pivoted or hinged by a pin 19 to an arm 20 hinged to the casing structure by the pin or spindle 9 on which the arm 8 is pivoted. This arm. 20 projects forwardly beyond the pin 19, havingmovably connected to its free enda short bolt 21 a which extends through an opening in the valve casing 1 and has threaded upon its outer end a flanged.cap 22. The flange of this cap lies within an enlargement of the opening through which the bolt passesg where it is held in any given position by a flanged jam nut The outer end of the adjusting cap is suitably fmmed-forthe reception of a wrench and the arrangement is such that by turning itthe lever-arm 20 is swung upon the spindle 9 as a fulcrum,

thereby altering the relative positioi'isof -the The lever 17 has rotat-ably mounted upon it a tumbler 21 formed with a notch .for the reception of the suitably formed'e the valve-carrying arm 8 which is.@ designed formed lugs integral with the casing structure adjacent the valve-seat 15. This link passes through the opening in said seat and is connected to the lever 28 by a pin or spindle 30 on which is also pivotally mount ed a weight 31 having a projection 32 de signed to engage one arm of a lever 33 fulcrumed on a pin 34 carried by a lug 35-extending downwardly from the under face A second arm ofthis lever '33 is designed to bear upon a lag 36 proof the valve 14.

' jecting from the inner surface of the valve seat 13 so that when the parts are in their set positions the pressure of the projection 32 of the weight upon the lever 33 tends to push the valve14 upwardly. This valve isfixed to an arm 37 pivoted or hinged to the casing structure by a pin or spindle 38 which also serves as a pivot for the mam air valve 4. I

Connecting with the opening in which is mounted the valve seat 6 is a flanged inlet 39 designed to be connected to a source of water under pressure and a flanged outlet .40 is provided at the top of the air chamher 12, it being understood that openings having suitable doors, indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 4, are provided 1n the walls of the chambers 5 and'12 for the purpose of assembling, inspecting and setting 40 the various arts. v

v The auxiliary air'valve 14 has a pair of 1ugs41' projecting from its top face and providing bearings for a spindle, 42 on which ismounted a catch in the form of a le'veri43'. The top of the main air valve 4 .is formed with a projecting web 44 having an overhanging edge 45 so proportioned that when sai'd valve swings through an angle somewhat less than 180, 1t engages '30 one arm of the lever 43, turning it on its ,pivot pin and'finally passing it, so that the projecting end 46 of the web rests upon a ledge 47 of the valve casing. By this means the valve 4 is temporarily locked or connected .to the valve 14, for the short arm of the lever 43 engages the inner part of the overhanging edge 45 when the main valve is moved from the position shown in F 1g.

2, so that it is necessary in order to uncouple said valves, that the lever 43 be' swung or allowed to swing on its pivot until it is clear of said overhanging edge.

The web 44 of the valve 4 has one or more openings 48, for the purpose of permitting mud or other'foreign materlal to wash out, and it is noted that the constructlon is designed to require an inspection of the valve 14 and its seat whenever the main water valve 7 will not rebound from its stop 49 when violently opened by the flow of- .water through the apparatus, I provide alever 50 so pivoted within the chamber 5, that while it may be turned'on its pivot in one direction when engaged by the nose on the valve supporting arm 8, when the j valve moves toward its fully open position, said lever will not move in the opposite dimotion but is held by reason of its engagement with a part of the casing. 'This retains the lever in such position that before the valve 7 with its arm 8 can be moved 35 from the position shown in Fig. 2,- to that shown in Fig. 1, said lever must be manually turned into such a position that-its lower arm will permit passage of the. nose 25.

Similarly I pivot adjacent the valve 4 an arm 51 which while normally resting against its side at a. poinfiopposite the pivot 38, will fall under it as it opens and will effectually prevent it from dropping back 5 into its closed position. The weight 31-and its associated parts outside of the casing structure are inclosed by a' suitably formed cover 68 hinged to the main casing structure by a spindle 69.

Under conditions of use the main air and water valves 4 and 7 are placed upon their seats, the valve 4 being. first uncoupled from the valve 14 and the levers 50 and 51 being manipulated to permit of their passage from their open positions. The auxiliary Van valve 14 being likewise seated, air is admitted to the chamber 12 .under the pressure which it is desired to maintain 9111 the sprinkler system connected to the outlet 40. The weight 131 is then raised to the position shown in the drawing,thuscausing its lug 32 to pass under the downwardly projecting arm of the lever 33, and moving the valve 16 with its arm 17 inwardly from'the valve seat 15. This inward movement of the said members causes the projection 25 on the valve-carrying arm 8 to enter its notch in the tumbler 24, after which the weight 31 may be released, when the air pressure on the valve 14 holds it with its associated parts in the set positions shown. If necessary the jam nut 23 is slacked ofi' and the cap 22 adjusted so that the valve 7 is held tightly to the seat 6, after which water under pressure may be admitted to the inlet 39 andthe system is ready for operation.

If at-any time the air pressure in the chamber 12 falls below a predetermined point, as it would upon the operation of one abutment 32 to clear the lower end of the lever 33, the weight 31 swings down on its pivot and coming in contact with a portion of the arm 28, turns this latter on its hinge or pivot 29. The valve 16 is thereby I caused or assisted tomove into engagement with its seat 15 and the lever 17 moves the tumbler 2 1 out of engagement with the end 25 of the arm 8 so that the valve 7 is free to swing on its pivot 9 past the lever 50 which turns on its pivot spindle and into a fully open position at one side of the valve casing 1, out of the line of the inlet and outlet. As previously noted said lever effectually prevents any rebound of the valve to its closed position so that Water from the inlet 39 enters the chamber 5 which it quickly fills and thereafter acts on the valve at so as to swing this back on its pivot or hinge 38. In so moving it lifts the arm 51 and then drops it, thereafter turning until the edge 45 of its web engages and passes the lever 13 of the valve 14.

After the upward movement of the valve ltreleases the Weight 31, said valve falls back upon its seat 13 and as above noted, the valve 4; shortly thereafter moves into a position immediately over it, out of the line of the water Current, which passes out of the chamber 12 through the outlet 40. It

will be noted that the weight 31 not onlygives ositive assurance of the opening of the valve 14 but also acts through the link 27 to positively swing the arm 17 with its tumbler 24 away from the valve carrying arm 8, it being obvious that the valve 16 seats upon its ring 15 so as to effectually prevent escape of water from the chamber 57 i In that form of my invention shown in Fig. 4 I have illustrated another arrangement of parts whereby the water valve may be adjusted relatively to its seat and for this purpose I pivot the valve-carrying arm 8 by a pin 62 to one end of a lever whose opposite end is pivoted or fulcrumed by a pin 61 to the valve casing. At a suitable point intermediate its ends I connect to said lever, 60 the bolt 21 which as before, extends through the valve casing 13 and has threaded on its outer end a cap 22 which may be clamped in any adjusted position by a In this case the lever17 is pivoted on a rod or pin 19* Whose ends are carried in the walls of the valvecasmg and said lever carries a rotatable tumbler 24 placed to be engaged by the nose or end of the valve-carrying arm 8.

In this case the weight 31 is carried on an arm 63 extending into the valve casing and pivoted bya pin 30 tothe upper end of the lever 17, adjacent which it has the form of a valve 16 designed to engage a seat 15 mounted in the opening in the valve casing. Adjacent the valve 16 this arm 63 has a hooked finger 32 designed to coact with a lever 33' pivoted to a pair of lugs on the under side of the controlling or auxiliary valve 14 which is prevented from rising more than a predetermined distance from its seat by a hook 61 connected to it by the same pin 31 as that which attaches the lever 33.

WVhen the parts of the valve are in their set positions this hook 61 rests upon a pin 66 carried by a lug or pair of lugs (37 projecting into the chamber 5 of the casing, but as soon as the controlling valve 11 has risen a predetermined distance from its seat, said hook falls into positive engagement with the pin 66 thereby preventing further rise of the said valve. As before, adjustment of the cap 22 raises or lowers the bolt 21 and this, by moving the lever 60 on its pivot, adjusts the water valve 7 relatively to its seat.

It is to be particularly noted that the various parts of my valve have been designed and arranged in order that the device shall not be likely to get out of order or have its elements easily disarranged even by rough handling. The resetting of the valve ,may be accomplished with ease and certainty while the outlines'of the members are such as to render diflicult, if not impossible the wedging or blocking to which apparatus of this class is frequently subjected. Moreover the construction is such that there is but little likelihood of the valve getting out of order or failing to properly perform its required functions. even after the lapse of long periods of time.

In resetting the apparatus it is necessary to manually hold the lever 43 while the main and auxiliary air valvesare separated and in so doing the operator is necessarily'led to inspectthe valve seats, so that the possibility of pieces of solid material being allowed to remain on said seats is reduced to the valves 7 and lat a11 pres'sures,'their under faces are provided w1th vanes," fins or rudders indicated at 70 and 71 respectively,

,sides ot' the latterlaterally projecting fins .73 which require the placing of the valve on such position that said pin 1s between the forks of the lever. v

lt is notedthat the bolt 21 has a shoulder or collar adjacent its head. designed to form a tight oint with the boss surroundn'ig theopening in the casing through which it passes. 'ith. this arrangement there can be no leakage around theholt when the water valve is open even if the adjusting nuts 22 and 23 be removed. I claim;

1. The combination in a dry pipe valve of a casing having a seat; a water valve cooperating with said seat; air controlled means including a lever for holding said valve closed; a member to which said lever is fulcrumed; and means for adjusting the position of said, member to vary the position of the valve relatively to its seat.

2. The combination in a dry pipe valve of' a casing having a valve seat; a water valve cooperating therewith; and air controlled means including a lever for normally holding said valve closed; a second lever mounted in the casing, and serving as a fulcrum for the first lever; a threaded member connected to the second lever and extending outside of the casing; with a nut on said threaded member for adjusting the position of said. second lever.

3. The combination in a dry pipe valve of a casing having two external openings respectively provided with valve seats; main air and water valves in the casing; an auxiliary air valve coacting with the seat of one of said openings of the casing; means connected with said auxiliary valve for holding themainwater valveshut, said means including a lever fulcrumed outside .of the casing, a weight movably mounted on said lever, a second lever in the casing and a link extending from the Weight through the second opening and operatively -con- ,neetedto the second lever With a valve for closing said second opening.

4. The combination in a dryp-ipe valve of a casing; main air andwater valves in the casing; an auxiliary air valve normally closing an opening into the casing; a lever operative on said auxiliaryair valve andfulcrumed on said auxiliary air valve; a Weight f ulcrumed; outside of the casing and .opera two on said leyer; with means connected to said weight and operative on tire main. wattavalve to normally hold it closet The combination in a dry pipe valve of a casing having a main water valve 1. l an air controlled valve: a lever fulcrunicd outside of the casing upon said air con.- trolled valve; :1 weight operative on said lever; and means for operati'vely conn'mfgting the weight and the main water valve to hold the latter closed.

'(3. The combination. in adrv pipe valve of a casing having tvvo O])t.TlllYgS in. its external \valls each provided. with a valve seat; a water valve in the casing; an air valve for one of said seated openings; two levers mounted respectivel on the inside and on the outside of the casing: a link connecting said lcvers and extending through the second of said openings; a valve carried by one "of said levers for closing said latter open ing; a weight pivoted to the second lever and operative on the air valve; and a tumbler on the first lever placed to engage the water valve to hold it shut.

T. The combination in a dry pipe valve of a casing having two external openings each provided with a valve seat; a water valve in the casing; an air valve normally closing one of said openings; a weight outside of the casing normally actingto open said air valve; an adjusting lever inside of the casing; a member extending outside of the casing and connected to said adjusting lever for swinging it, on its pivot; a-second lever fulcrumed to the, first lever; a linkconnected to said second lever and operatively connected to the weight; means on the second lever for engaging the water valve to hold it shut; and a valve carried by said sec- ,ond lever for closing the second opening.

SL The combination. in dry pipe valve of a casing having two external openings each provided with'a valve seat; main water and air valves hinged within the casing; an auxiliary air valve hingedto swing on the sameaXis as that of the hinge of said main'air valve and mounted: to'closeone of the openings; two levers respectively mounted inside and outside of the casing; a link extending through the second of said openings and connecting said levers; a weightpivoted to the outer lever and operative upon the auxiliary air valve; a valve mounted upon the inner lever and placed -to-close the second of said openings;'an'd means carried by said latter lever for engaging the water valve to hold it closed.

9. The combination' in a dry pipe valve of 'a casing having an'inlet opening; a water valve hinged Within the casing-in position to close said opening; a lever hinged in the same line as the hinge of said valve;

a member connected to said lever and, es-

tendlng out'slde' of the caslng; means on said member for adjusting the position ofl ment with'the other.

the lever; a second lever in the casing fulcrumed to the first lever and having means for engaging the water valve to hold it shut; and an air controlled valve operativel connected to the second lever "for holding it in a set position as long as the air pressure in the casing remains above a predetermined minimum 10. The combination of acasing having an inlet and. an outlet; two levers having their fulcrums in line; a valve for the inlet of the casing connected to one of said levers; a controlling valve connected to the other lever; means for operatively connecting said first valve-connected lever with the connection between the controlling valve and the other lever; with means for adjusting the latter lever to cause adjustment of the valve-connected lever and of the inlet valve relatively to its seat.

11. The combination of a structure having two valve sea-ts; two valves respectively cooperating with said seats and mounted in positions to engage each other under predetermined conditions; with means for causing said valves to be locked together when they come into engagement.

12. The combination in a dry pipe valve of a casing having a water valve, and main and auxiliary air valves; means for automatically locking said air valves together when the main air valve opens; and mechanism connecting the auxiliary air valve with the water valve to hold the latter shut under normal conditions.

13. The combination of a stru ture having two valve seats; valves respectively cooperating w'ith said seats; a lever mounted on one of said valves; and a projection en the other valve placed to cooperate 'z-irh said lever to temporarily lock the val t gether when'one of them moves into engage- 14. The combination in a dry pipe valve of a casing having a water valve, andmain and auxiliary air valves; alatch in the form of a lever on one of said air valves; a motion limiting web forming an inclosure on the other air valve and including a projecting part cooperating with the lever to lock said valves together when one of them moves to its open position, there being an opening in the web to give access to said lever; with mechanism connecting the auxiliary air valve and the water valve to hold the latter shut under normal conditions.

15. The combination in a dry pipe valve of a casing; air and water valves therefor; a lever hinged to the casing; means for movably connecting the lever and the water valve so as to permit of a limited independent movement of said valve; and means for connecting the lever and the air controlled valve to maintain the water valve in a closed position as long as the air pressure in the casing remains above a predetermined minimum, said means including a manually adjustable lever and an arm thereon detachably engaging the water valve.

16. The combination in a dry pipe valve of a casing having a main water valve;' a transverse vane mounted on the under side of said valve in position to catch water flowing into the casing and accelerate the opening of said valve.

17. The combination in a dry pipe valve of acasing; a main water valve pivotally mounted therein; and a vane extending across the under face of said valve at a. point relatively distant from the ivotthereof in position to receive water o-'ing into the casing and accelerate the opening of the valve.

18. The combination in a dry pipe valve of Wing; a lever fulcrumed therein; a water valve rotatably mounted on said lever: a vane on the face of said valve in positirm to receive water flowing into the easr to accelerate the opening of the valve; means for limiting the possible an le l: which the valve may rotate re a- .o its lever.

ln'testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

POWELL EVANS.

Witnesses GERALD 0. BROWN, WM. A. BARR. 

